Altruism is the new avarice

When we explain the 1000heads approach - building sustained brand advocacy through experiences not payment, therby preserving the independence and influence of the resulting word of mouth - clients always ask one thing: why on earth would these people want to get involved? If they aren’t paid, what’s in it for them?

The answer is that we offer them something much more valuable than mere cash, like: original, exciting and relevant experiences that tap into their passions; opportunities to showcase and promote their own expertise, creativity and profile; exclusive information and hands-on trials that give them the informed, independent opinions that bring them both followers and kudos; ways to collaborate and bond both witin their own community and with other likeminded global groups; and the chance to actually be heard by and change the brands they use.

Getting young people involved at the BBC Blast Studios - see more in our Flickr set here.

So I was delighted to see a lengthy and highly persuasive article in Ode announcing that:

A growing body of experimental work by behavioral economists proves altruism not only exists but is one of our primary motivations, even in financial affairs. And if some progressive economists have their way, we may be on the cusp of a more humane era in which altruism, not avarice, becomes the trait our economic system nourishes. “It is increasingly obvious that people are motivated by morality; people are motivated by ethics,” says Herbert Gintis, an emeritus professor at the University of Massachusetts and one of the leading economists studying altruism. “We may be seeing a possible renaissance of economic theory.”

It’s inspirational stuff - read the full post here.

Brought into the world on Monday, June 1st, 2009 and filed under Uncategorized.